Grad Coach International

Don’t use big words to sound smart. Your goal isn’t to impress; it’s to communicate. If your reader has to re-read a sentence, you’ve lost them. Fancy language might seem clever, but it muddies your message. Choose “use” instead of “utilise.” Say “start” instead of “commence.” Simple language makes your work clearer, sharper, and easier to follow. Today, revise one section of your writing and simplify every overly complex word or phrase. Focus on clarity over cleverness. Remember, clarity is king. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Newer isn't always better. Recency bias can lead you to overvalue the latest studies while neglecting foundational works that shaped your field. While staying up-to-date is important, older research often provides critical context and insights that newer studies build upon. Today, revisit one older, highly cited paper in your field and evaluate how it connects to more recent research. Remember, a strong literature review balances historical depth with current developments. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Messy data leads to messy results. Collecting your data is only half the battle. Without solid organisation, you’ll drown in a sea of spreadsheets, transcripts, and notes. So, be sure to ;abel everything clearly, back up your files, and use a system that works for you—be it a folder structure, a software tool, or even colour coding. The easier it is to access and understand your data, the faster your analysis will go. Today, organise your existing data into a clear system. Name your files properly and create backups. Get organised. Future you will thank you. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Don't assume your examiners will be topic experts. Your dissertation needs to be clear enough for someone outside your niche to understand. Avoid jargon, overly technical language, or assumptions about prior knowledge. Explain complex concepts in plain language, and define any terms that aren’t common knowledge. A simple, well-explained thesis is far more convincing than a convoluted one. Today, review one section of your work and rewrite it as if you’re explaining it to a smart friend (outside your field). Remember, simplicity shows mastery. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Not all feedback is created equal. Supervisors often give lots of suggestions, but not all of them are equally important. You need to distinguish between the critical stuff and the ""nice to haves"". If you’re unsure which suggestions to prioritise, ask: “Which of these should I tackle first?” or “Is this essential for my next milestone?” Today, review your supervisor’s latest feedback and create a priority list. Identify the most critical actions and start there. Remember, focus on what moves the needle. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Not all data is created equal. You don’t need to collect all the data—you need to collect the right data. Identify the 20% of data that will give you 80% of the insights. Focus on that and skip the fluff. Whether it’s interviews, surveys, or secondary data, ensure every piece directly ties back to your research question. Anything else is noise. Today, review your data collection plan and ask yourself: “Is this essential?” Set aside anything that doesn’t directly serve your research purpose. You can always circle back to it later if needed. Remember, quality beats quantity every time. 👉🏼 GET 1:1 HELP https://lnkd.in/guEB2-zF 👈🏼

Confirmation bias is a silent killer. Only looking for studies that agree with your thinking weakens your research. A strong literature review considers all sides of an argument, including findings that challenge your perspective. Ignoring contradictory evidence will create gaps in your work and make your conclusions less convincing. Today, review your sources and find one study that presents an opposing viewpoint. Think critically about how to address or incorporate it into your review. Remember, quality research isn’t about proving you’re right — it’s about building a credible argument. ➡️ GET 1:1 HELP @ https://buff.ly/3CJAZW1

There are two main "sticking points" when it comes to the literature review: 1) The collecting and reading of articles, and 2) Getting started with the writing. When it comes to collecting and reading articles, questions like "Are these relevant?" "What if I am missing something?" or "How do I critique this?" prevent us from fully engaging. When it comes to writing, we are often worried about whether we have read enough, or how to start, or whether it will be good enough. Allow yourself to learn and be messy. While there are always tricks to being more effective in your reading or streamlining your writing, both phases require you to get outside of your comfort zone and "get going". #academicwriting #academia #writing #literaturereview #gradschool #dissertation

One way to appear more critical in your literature review is to showcase the actual research a bit more. Brian et al. (2024) did not only "argue" a point, they "tested, using surveys from" a particular sample. Andy and Brenner (2018), "in a review of" the topic, highlighted the point you are trying to make. You do two things by incorporating a phrase or sentence that connects the article's point with what the authors did to demonstrate that point. Firstly, you are no longer assuming that the reader has read the paper you are citing, and giving them more context and clarity on how this type of research is done. Secondly, you pave the way towards your research gap or methodology by showcasing what kinds of research have been done in this area. While you do not need to do this for every article, those that you actively mention using integral referencing (where the reference is a part of the sentence, versus in brackets at the end) should have some context associated with them.

Curious about how to effectively read a research paper? Join our experts, Ethar and Amy, as they discuss essential elements that should be your focus.